Bill regulating law enforcement drone use in N.J. clears the Assembly

A bill that would regulate how police, firefighters and other first responders in New Jersey can use unmanned aircraft commonly referred to as drones cleared the state Assembly on Monday.

The legislation would force police departments to secure warrants to use a drone, and would prohibit drones from being outfitted with any weapons. Agencies would also have to report on drone usage annually to the state Attorney General’s Office.

"We have heard many concerns about the expanded use of drones invading personal privacy, so a bill like this makes sense in this day and age," said Assemblyman Dan Benson, D-Mercer.

"We will not be impairing the ability of law enforcement and emergency services to use drones when they're definitely needed,” said Benson, a primary sponsor of the bill. “We'll just be creating common sense guidelines."

The bill already cleared the state Senate, but will have to go back due to amendments added by the Assembly.

Federal officials announced last week that a bombing range in New Jersey’s Pinelands will be used by Rutgers University, Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland for a joint study on the civilian use of drones.

For now, the New Jersey legislation only spells out how drones can be used for public safety missions.